CHICAGO, IL— Depression and anxiety, not just inflammation, predict pain intensity and interference with daily life among women recovering from gynecologic cancer surgery, according to findings from a longitudinal, prospective study, presented at the 2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

“Our results suggest that depression, anxiety and inflammation may exacerbate pain following surgery for gynecologic cancer,” concluded lead author Kelsey Honerlaw of the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, Wisconsin, and coauthors. “Interventions that target these risk factors could improve postsurgical recovery and enhance overall quality of life for these women.”